Patrick delivered the eulogy at Seth's funeral.
Noelle was approached by a record producer.
Baby Jolie was born.
Episode 20
Careless Whisper
As the congregation filed out of the church, Louisa's heels clicked against the cobblestone path leading to the sidewalk. Suzanne followed her, and they tried to catch up to Patrick, who was more than several yards ahead.
“Patrick! Wait!” Louisa called out. “I want to have a few words with you.”
Patrick stopped and turned to the two sisters.
Louisa seethed. She muttered something under her breath. She really wanted to swear, but that wasn't appropriate when she had just attended mass. She quickly gained her composure and had her few words.
“What was the meaning of that--?”
Suzanne chimed in. “Self-aggrandizing--”
Louisa placed her hand over Suzanne's mouth. “Hush, Suzanne.”
“What I meant to ask was—what was the meaning of that—that so-called eulogy?”
Patrick replied, “I spoke from the heart.”
“That eulogy was all about you! It wasn't about your father at all!”
Louisa's anger intensified a few levels. It wasn't fair that Patrick's eulogy left a bad taste in her mouth. Seth's life was to be celebrated, not made a mockery of.
“I loved my father. It was tough. I thought I hated him...really hated him, but my emotions overcame me,” Patrick said.
“You owe us an apology!” Louisa yelled out.
“You want an apology? OK, I'm sorry,” Patrick said.
“You didn't really mean it.”
*****
Holding baby Jolie in her arms and with Simone by her side, Noelle walked to her car. Ryan accompanied them. Just before Ryan opened the door, he spotted a flyer pinned to the windshield by a wiper.
“What's this?” Ryan asked himself. “Probably some snow shoveling service.” He began to crumple the paper, and then took a second look.
The flyer read, Canada's Talent Showcase. Auditions next weekend.
He handed the flyer to Noelle. “Here's something I think you'd be interested in.”
She studied it and handed it back to him. “No, I don't think so.”
“Come on. Why not give it a shot?”
“But I only sing in church! Besides, I have the kids to take care of.”
“We can get your parents to watch the kids. You know how your mother absolutely loves Simone. And they both dote over Jolie. How 'bout it?”
Noelle pondered for a moment. “All right. I'll think about it.”
*****
“All right, that's a wrap. See you tomorrow,” the floor director said as Jeff and Paige removed their mics.
The network boss called Paige over to a corner while Jeff waited at the news desk, sipping coffee. This had been the end of his week's audition on Breakfast in Canada. So far things had gone well, and he began to get used to waking up in the wee hours of the morning.
“This Perkins kid is good,” the boss whispered to Paige. “What do you think?”
“He's been a dream to work with,” Paige replied. “He's prepared, he interviews well and he has the smile we need and the knowledge to carry a serious news story. I like him. I like him a lot.”
“Should we hire him permanently?” the boss asked.
“That's your decision.”
“It's as much your decision as it is mine,” he said. “You're the producer. I want your feedback.”
“OK. Let's hire him.”
Paige and the boss walked over to him. The boss put a hand on his shoulder.
“Perkins,” the boss told him. He always called Jeff by his last name, not wanting to use casual addresses. Perhaps that was a throwback to his football coach days.
“We liked what we saw,” Paige added. “The boss and I have discussed this.”
“We'd like to hire you,” the boss told him. “You'll have to get used to coming in at 4AM.”
“I've done it this week, so I've gotten used to it. I don't think you or Paige will be disappointed.”
“Come into the office to sign your contract and get show material for Monday. You'll have the weekend to go over this, and we'll see you at 4 on Monday morning,” Paige told him.
Jeff smiled and shook their hands. “Right. I'll be there.”
Paige and the boss walked to the production office, while Jeff waited for a moment.
Jeff pumped his fist into the air. “Yes!”
It was the job of a lifetime.
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